Tennessee
Grundy County
Grundy Forest Day Loop
Hiking trail in Grundy Forest State Natural Area
Located in South Cumberland State Park, this 2 mile hike loop trail starts from the entry behind the picnic shelter. The first mile of the trail is considered easy and passes through a swampy area that consists of sandstone. The second mile starts the descent into the gorge and runs parallel to Fiery Gizzard Creek; this section is considered moderate. This section of trail is also the northernmost section of the famed Fiery Gizzard Trail.
You will pass many waterfalls, such as Blue Hole Falls then about a mile in you will pass Hanes Hole Falls.The trail follows both Fiery Gizzard Creek and Little Gizzard Creek for much of its route, with tumbling cascades, several waterfalls and swimming holes along the way. Sycamore Falls is a popular swimming hole on hot Summer days. There are also mountain vistas and breathtaking views of national forest lands and the Sequatchie Valley.
The trail also reflects the history of this area. You'll see old mines, native American hunting shelters, and maybe even a moonshine still.
Hiking the Grundy Forest Day Loop is an amazing experience, situated on the brow of Monteagle Mountain in Tennessee, you can experience the best Tennessee has to offer.
Length: 2.0 miles
Difficulty: 3
Nearby Trails
Stone Door Trail
Easy hiking trail to the Great Stone Door in South Cumberland State Recreation Area
North Rim-North Plateau Loop
Combines North Rim Trail and North Plateau Trail in South Cumberland State Recreation Area
Savage Day Loop
Hiking loop past Savage Falls Overlook and Rattlesnake Point
Russell Cave Trail
Nice hike through forest and wildflowers into Russell Cave
Enclosure Wall Trail
Hiking loop in Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Area
Day Hike
We had a wonderful time hiking this short trail. The secluded ponds and waterfalls were very beautiful. There are many places to swim during the summer. The only reason we rank this four out five is because of the footing on trails. Many parts have rocky and root tangled paths not to mention very narrow paths along steep hillsides. Overall we loved it and plan on going again in the future.
Day Hike
What a hidden treasure we stumbled upon! My two sons (ages 17 and 20) and myself stopped at this park on the long drive home from Minnesota. We leisurely hiked the day trail in about 3 hours, stopping along the way to take pictures and get our feet wet in the streams. The waterfalls were so beautiful as well as the rock formations and trees. We only saw two other groups of hikers, so we really felt we had the trail to ourselves. The trail is not easy in some places due to roots, rocks and uneven footing, but that made it all the better because it forced us to go slowly and really take in the beauty around us. Can't wait to hike it again!